Rep. Bryan Lawrence

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House resolution that formally impeaches Minnesota Governor Timothy J. Walz for alleged corrupt conduct in office. It directly affects the Governor by charging him with four specific articles of misconduct, including concealing fraud in state programs, obstructing oversight investigations, prioritizing political narratives over transparency, and failing to enforce laws protecting public funds. If adopted by the House, the resolution would immediately suspend the Governor's duties while the Senate conducts a trial to determine whether he should be removed from office. The bill also requires the Speaker of the House to serve formal notice of the charges to the Governor and directs the Chief Clerk to send copies of the resolution to relevant state officials.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Minnesota School Safety Center to create and distribute evidence-based model safety plans for K-12 schools, requiring districts to adopt similar plans by May 2028. It establishes strict criteria for what counts as "evidence-based," mandating that safety strategies be backed by strong research or well-designed studies before they are implemented. The legislation also enables anonymous threat reporting systems in schools and requires the safety center to consult with licensed mental health professionals when developing these plans. Additionally, the bill modifies grant programs for school buildings and cybersecurity while increasing funding for safe schools initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution initiates the formal impeachment process against Keith Ellison, Minnesota's Attorney General, alleging corrupt conduct and crimes while in office. The bill directs the House to adopt six articles of impeachment that accuse Ellison of abusing his office to defend unlawful protest activity, undermining religious liberty protections, failing to enforce laws impartially, engaging in conflicts of interest, and soliciting political support in exchange for favorable treatment. If adopted, the resolution immediately bars Ellison from exercising his duties as Attorney General until the Senate conducts a trial and votes on his acquittal or conviction. The House Speaker must serve notice of the charges to Ellison, and the enrolled resolution must be transmitted to the Governor, Secretary of State, and Senate leadership to begin the constitutional impeachment proceedings.

Maddy summaryHF 3493 increases Minnesota's safe schools revenue funding to $36 per adjusted pupil unit for the 2027 fiscal year and later. It expands eligibility to include charter schools, cooperative units, nonpublic schools, and Tribal contract schools - previously limited to traditional public school districts. The bill requires funds to be used for specific safety purposes like security enhancements, counseling services, drug prevention programs, and cybersecurity measures. This policy change directly affects all Minnesota schools receiving state education funding, providing new resources for school safety initiatives. The bill takes effect for fiscal year 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 3511 increases state funding for school safety and local optional school aid while changing Minnesota's school meal program. It limits state-paid free and reduced-price school lunches to families earning at or below 500% of the federal poverty level (approximately $160,000 for a family of four in 2024), replacing the previous "free school meals program" with an "enhanced school meals program." The bill also reduces state reimbursement rates for school lunches starting in fiscal year 2028 - from 12.5 cents per full-paid/free meal to 6.25 cents - while requiring schools to adopt new meal policies preventing "lunch shaming" and ensuring students receive meals regardless of unpaid debt. This directly affects Minnesota public schools and families with children enrolled in the national school lunch program.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one-time property tax refund program for Minnesota property owners who paid eligible taxes in 2026, affecting residential, agricultural, and commercial property classifications. The program allocates $4 billion from the state general fund to provide refunds based on a percentage calculated by the Department of Revenue, with applications accepted between July 15 and September 15, 2026. Any unclaimed refund amounts will automatically be converted into property tax credits for 2027 on the properties where no refund was requested. The legislation defines specific property categories eligible for the refund and sets clear deadlines for application processing and payment distribution.

Maddy summaryHF 1698 amends Minnesota property tax law to expand exemptions for certain leased land. It adds new exemptions allowing nonprofit conservation organizations to lease land for grazing activities without triggering property taxes, and clarifies that airport hangars used for aviation services (not for general business) remain tax-exempt. The bill directly affects nonprofit groups leasing land for conservation and airport operators leasing hangars for aircraft services. These changes take effect for property taxes due in 2026. The bill does not create new taxes but modifies existing exemption rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how the state of Minnesota calculates registration taxes for passenger automobiles and hearses, directly affecting vehicle owners and dealers. It lowers the tax rate applied to the manufacturer's suggested retail price from 1.54% to 1.25% for cars registered before November 2020, and from 1.575% to 1.285% for newer vehicles, while also removing destination charges from the calculation for most cars. The legislation adjusts the percentage of the vehicle price used for tax purposes as the car ages, reducing the rate each year until it reaches a flat fee in the eleventh year. These tax changes are scheduled to take effect for registration periods beginning on or after January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 2113 exempts small Minnesota employers with 50 or fewer employees from the state's paid leave requirement. This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 268B.01, to explicitly exclude such employers from the paid leave mandate. Small businesses that currently meet the 50-employee threshold will no longer be required to provide paid leave under this law. Employers with 50 or fewer employees may still choose to opt into the paid leave program if they wish. The bill directly affects small business owners and their employees in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires drivers to stop at least 20 feet away from a school bus displaying flashing red lights while children are boarding or exiting. It directly affects all drivers approaching school buses on Minnesota roads, mandating they remain stopped until the red lights cease flashing. The bill also adds a new provision warning drivers that amber lights indicate red lights will soon activate, requiring them to prepare to stop. These changes aim to improve safety for children near school bus stops. The bill is currently pending passage after committee approval.